THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014
PAINT WORK
DESIGNER POLISH
TORONTO STAR
BACKSTAGE
LUSH LOCKS
Christian Louboutin’s latest project nails redcarpet glamour
A celeb stylist on the secret to spotlightworthy hair
page 4
page 9
DRESSING UP
TOP CROPS Olivia Stren tries on culottes page 11
MOVIE-STAR MAKEOVER Channel the A-listers at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival with our guide to a perfectly bronzed bod, glossy locks and glowing skin
KRISTEN WIIG AT THE 2014 EMMY AWARDS. PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES
page 10
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THEKIT.CA / 3 TWEET OF THE WEEK
“Jeans were made for Saturdays. (Well, and every other day that ends in y)”
THE MONTH’S BEST
Mix masters
Ostwald Helgason’s second accessories collaboration with Aldo means tactile runway-ready staples that won’t break the bank
@HoltRenfrew, on our year-round staple pants
When designers Susanne Ostwald of Germany and her Icelandic partner Ingvar Helgason were approached to do a follow-up collection with fastfashion brand Aldo, they jumped at the chance. The London-based duo were thrilled to add shoes and bags to their ready-to-wear line, whose signature colour combinations and crisp silhouettes have propelled the label into fashion-savvy circles. “Not only does this collab give emerging designers a fantastic opportunity to create accessories to complete their collections, it also makes it possible for a younger, fashion-oriented customer to buy into the brand,” says Helgason. The design process for this accessories line was much the same as for Ostwald Helgason’s ready-to-wear collection: The pair start by choosing colour, texture and shape. “Through these elements, we like to achieve a look that is simultaneously polished and playful,” says Helgason. Their first collaboration, which was in stores last spring, riffed on poppy hues in various stripes and graphic colour-blocked silhouettes. For their new fall collection the designers drew inspiration from the works of two very different artists, German conceptualist Joseph Beuys and American pop artist Roy Lichtenstein. The result? A moodier palette (ideal for fall) that focuses on a mix of classic navy tweeds with glossy black, oxblood leather and matte gold finishes on the hardware. Amid the interplay of unique textures and fabrics, a standout detail from this line is the vinyl-wrapped cylindrical heel that boasts a subtle nod to a mod 1960s silhouette (especially when teamed with a top-handle bag). “Apart from aesthetics it was also a question of practicality. When it comes to heels, I am a city girl. I want to be able to walk in them—there are lots of tricky cobblestones in London,” says Ostwald. “The great thing about the boots is that they are so versatile. They are great to combine with your skinny jeans or an ankle-length skirt.”—Vanessa Taylor
BEAUTY MATH Super-sleek hair teamed with just-been-kissed lips and flushed cheeks adds up to a look we love
A CURL-FLATTENING BLOW-DRY CREAM LIKE AVEDA SMOOTH INFUSION NATURALLY STRAIGHT, $32, AVEDA.CA
A SHEER, BUILDABLE LIP-AND-CHEEK STICK LIKE NARS MATTE MULTIPLE IN SIAM, $46, SEPHORA.CA
ELLE FANNING
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OSTWALD HELGASON X ALDO RISE BOOTS, $180, BAG, $85, AT ALDO STORES AND ALDOSHOES.COM
Photography by Adrian Armstrong.
With her poker-straight, side parted strands and fresh flush of colour, Elle Fanning is a shining example of youthful sophistication. Lock in a smooth, flyaway-free blowout by applying a smoothing cream to towel-dried hair before blow-drying and flat-ironing. Mimic her rosy glow by finger-painting a multi-tasking cherry stain onto lips and the apples of the cheeks. —Natasha Bruno
PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES (FANNING ANF FUKUNAG); PETER STIGTER (KARAN); IMAXTREE (LOVE); GEOFFREY ROSS (SILVER EYESHADOW).
TALKING POINT
CARY FUKUNAGA
MAN BRAIDS When C ar y Fukunaga accepte d the Outstanding Directing Emmy for True Detective, his two gloriously shiny French braids stole the show—and created a Twitter frenzy akin to when Jared Leto wore a man bun to this year’s Golden Globes. Fukunaga isn’t the only one owning the man braid. Zoe Saldana’s husband, Italian artist Marco Perego, wore a casual plait at the Cannes Film Festival in May, and French model Willy Cartier has sported fishtails since 2011. Matt Collins, hairstylist and co-owner of Brennan Demelo Studios in Toronto, is a fan of Willie Nelson’s braids. “It started with Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean,” he says. “Every guy thought that was badass.” A q u i c k b row s e o f # m a n b r a i d s o n Instagram and YouTube braid tutorials aimed specifically at men reveals that hip young gents are becoming increasingly experimental with plaits, and we like it. —Veronica Saroli
DONNA KARAN
RICHARD CHAI LOVE
ONE TREND, TWO WAYS
SILVER BELLES Give eyes the precious-metal treatment this fall. From a wash of snowy argent to dramatic frosted gunmetal, cool, shimmering shadows make an enchanting beauty statement. 9-to-5 Twinkle At Richard Chai Love, makeup artist Romy Soleimani applied a sheer polar dust across the upper and lower lids for a delicate, diffused effect that’s daytime-appropriate. “It’s hazy, almost like a cloud on the eye,” she said. After-Hours Glamour At Donna Karan, makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury tapped a pigment-packed dark pewter shadow all over the lids and up into the crease. She described the look as punky yet futuristic; we say it’s perfect for the party circuit. —Natasha Bruno
PIXI FAIRY DUST, $10, AT TARGET
M.A.C. COSMETICS PRESSED PIGMENT IN JET COUTURE, $25, MACCOSMETICS.CA
STYLE THERMOSTAT Chloë Sevigny The eternal It Girl announced she’ll release her first book, Chloë, filled with style-inspiring photos, in April.
Iggy Azalea She just remixed and launched “Booty” with JLo and is collaborating with Steve Madden on a footwear line out in February.
Taylor Swift Her perfume sales dipped and the VMA bodysuit was poorly received, but her “Shake It Off” song still tops the iTunes charts.
Downton Abbey’s Cast Current items have been banned from set—including undergarments!—after a water bottle was in a press photo for Season Five.
Zara The company has pulled a children’s shirt after a backlash on social media because it resembled a Holocaust prisoner’s uniform.
4 / THEKIT.CA FOOT WORK
LUXE LACQUER
Christian Louboutin is largely responsible for shifting our focus on best-dressed photographs downward to red-carpet level, with those vertiginous heels, vibrantly coloured satins, leathers and feathers and, most famously, those scarlet soles. They came about in 1992, when Louboutin spotted a bottle of red polish on his assistant’s desk and decided to use it to paint the bottom of a shoe prototype. It makes sense, then, that he would branch out into a line of nail polishes to adorn the toes exposed by his attention-stealing sandals. At $58 a pop (at Holt Renfrew), the 31 lacquers capped by a long metallic spike aren’t exactly a cheap thrill, but they will deliver an outsize dose of red- (or eggplant-, or turquoise-) carpet glamour. —Rani Sheen
MARIA SHARAPOVA
SMALLER, LOWER POCKETS UPWARDANGLED SIDE DARTS
TECHNO-TAILORING
Boost your jeans You’ve poured yourself into your shapewear and you’re looking hot. But what happens when it comes to taking it off? Major. Passion. Killer. Italian fashion company Liu Jo, new to Canada this month, has a solution BY NATASHA BRUNO
From 16th-century corsets and 1920s girdles to today’s Spanx and push-up bras, figure-fixing shapewear has long lifted, flattened and defined our figures—without surgery. But the process of getting out of it can be far less flattering. Thankfully, essential wardrobe pieces are putting red-faced derobing to an end, by incorporating the structural elements and innovative fabrics of shapewear into their design. Now there’s even more reason to go to your go-tos. A pair of well-fitted jeans has long epitomized feel-good dressing, from the days of shrinking them to fit in the tub in the 1960s, to the evolution of stretch denim. Italian contemporary womenswear brand Liu Jo, which will be available in specialty retailers and boutiques this month, is taking the sexy staple a step further. Its Bottom Up line, which launched in Europe in 2008, uses patented tailoring techniques to strategically lift the rear and shape the legs. The idea was born out of a meeting with a plastic surgeon, says Marco Marchi, who founded Liu Jo in 1995 in Carpi, Italy, with his brother Vannis. “We wanted to hear what kind of surgery was most requested by women.” The answer (gluteus maximus augmentation) spurred them on to research ways to create butt-enhancing jeans. Liu Jo designers employed tailoring techniques including an upsidedown yoke (what is usually a V-shaped seam above the butt is inverted). As well, side darts on the upper thigh angle upward, starting from the side seam to the back pocket, so your eye moves up. Together with smaller and lower back pockets, these simple yet crucial details work to visually raise and contour the booty. Meanwhile a soft hyper-stretch fabric made of twisted polyester, elastic fibres and cotton streamlines the legs. There’s also a wash-resistant, non-allergenic silicone lining that follows the outline of the pockets, to help the denim stay in place and keep the tush lifted. These butt-enhancing strategies appear to be working: Liu Jo has sold over 550,000 pairs worldwide, with Rachel McAdams and Queen Letizia of Spain among its fans. Available at liujo.com
SHAPE SHIFTERS
It’s not just about denim: Here are three more must-haves that offer figure-enhancing benefits without feeling like a girdle Legs for Days With vertical side panelling and thick, shape-retaining stretch fabric, these slim trousers help sculpt the hips and thighs while creating a smooth and sleek leg line. PINK TARTAN TECH-PANEL PANT, $245, AT HOLT RENFREW AND PINKTARTAN.COM
Hourglass Illusion This monochromatic colourblocked dress is great for creating a curvy silhouette. The light and dark vertical panels and skinny faux-leather strips camouflage lumps and bumps while whittling the waist. The three-quarter– length sleeves also cut the arms at a slim point, making the whole arm look slender. LAURA COLOUR-BLOCK DRESS, $145, LAURA.CA
Wow Waist The exaggerated fit-and-flare cut and angled flap pockets of this wool blazer add volume and dimension below the waist. Perfect for creating curves on an athletic, straight-up-and-down figure. SMYTHE HUNTING JACKET, $595, AT HOLT RENFREW AND SMYTHELESVESTESCOM
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Christian Louboutin has long decorated the feet of A-listers, but with a new line of nail polish out now, you can get some of his signature colour on your toes, too
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The Sneaker Shop these exclusive styles and more at The Shoe HQ, Canada’s largest shoe department — Hudson’s Bay Queen Street, Main Floor. #OBSESSED
6 / THEKIT.CA WEEKEND UPDATE
PIN-UP GIRLS A-listers everywhere are turning to sparkly embellished hairpins to fancy up their dos in a flash. From delicate and refined to oversized and dramatic, they transform neat updos or loose coifs into award-worthy looks BY NATASHA BRUNO
ONE-MINUTE MIRACLE
ALLISON WILLIAMS
OLIVIA MUNN
EMMA WATSON
the vainest of them all? Probably me (let’s face it), so let me express to you, Simplehuman Sensor Mirror, how much I appreciate the way you light up when I come near you, your evenly dispersed glow that mimics natural daylight and your tough-love promise that “looking good in this light means you will look flawless in every setting.” While sometimes you lead me to fixate on every fine line and visible pore, I know that you’re telling me the truth about my poorly blended concealer, wonky eyeliner and unplucked brow hairs before I head out into the world, and that is what a true friend is for. Love, Rani Sheen
AYMELINE VALADE
ZOE SALDANA
It Piece This crystal-embellished hair slider set lets you adjust your hair statement by wearing th e m a l o n e o r to g e th e r, and the mix of neon yellow, lavender and white stones adds colourful interest to any hairdo.
CARA DELEVINGNE
Contemporary Twinkle Supermodel Cara Delevingne adds modern bite to an old Hollywood do by securing her side-parted voluminous curls with a glimmering slide.
Hello Birdie Accentuating her side-swept sof t waves , Olivia Munn’s winged pin makes a statement necklace or earrings unecessary.
Bling Your Bun Do like Allison Williams and turn a simple low chignon into the ultimate show-stopping accessory with a megawatt-sparkle bun holder.
Star Style Diamond - encrusted stars add rocker chic to Emma Watson’s half- up, tousled hairstyle for a look that ’s f re s h , re l a xe d a n d f l i r t y.
Antique Glitz This curved baguette hairp i e c e f i n i s h e s of f m o d e l Aymeline Valade’s Frenchplaited chignon with vintage charm, for an elegant look that verges on whimsical.
JENNIFER BEHR SET OF TWO HAIR SLIDES, $255, NET-A-PORTER.COM
Curtain Call Add unexpected edge to a sweet-and-sleek ballerina bun like Zoe Saldana with a bedazzled abstract barrette.
SIMPLEHUMAN SENSOR MIRROR, $220, SEPHORA.CA
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Thursday, September 11 | Friday, September 12 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Toronto Eaton Centre (Centre Court) Join us for complimentary mini makeovers and receive free samples courtesy of Elizabeth Arden and weekend outfit inspiration from The Kit. Then step into our photo booth for your camera ready moment.
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THEKIT.CA / 9 BEN SKERVIN’S SIX ESSENTIALS Whether you’re getting ready on a private jet or in the comfort of your own bathroom, here’s what you need to whip your hair into step-and-repeat shape RACHEL WEISZ AT THE 2013 GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS
1. Mousse “This is light but it gives you the volume, that oomph, that the hair needs, especially if you have fine hair. Sometimes mousse can come out and look like shaving cream, and you think ‘This is going to be like concrete in my hair.’ This is super light and great—it’s not like scrunching mousse—you put it in and blow-dry it.”
RACHEL MCCADAMS AT THE 2014 METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART COSTUME INSTITUTE GALA
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VIDAL SASSOON PRO SERIES BOOST AND LIFT FOAMING AIR MOUSSE, $6, AT DRUGSTORES
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2. Dry shampoo “You know when you’re almost getting to the point where your hair needs to be washed, but you’re just like, ‘Oh God, this texture’s so great!’ Texturizing sprays help to get that. Dry shampoo is really good to give the hair a little bit of guts, and to deconstruct a look as well, when you spray it in just at the root.” 6
EMMA WATSON AT THE 2013 PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS
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PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES (CELEBRITIES), GEOFFREY ROSS (HAIRPINS)
KEIRA KNIGHTLEY’S POWER PONYTAIL AT THE 2005 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
RAISING HIS HAIR GAME
In-demand Hollywood hairstylist, Ben Skervin on his best TIFF moments, red-carpet looks that broke the mould and performing under pressure “I’ve become a little bit bored with redcarpet looks,” says hairstylist Ben Skervin, who works with Keira Knightley, Rachel Weisz and Uma Thurman and is a spokesperson for Vidal Sassoon. “Everyone’s been playing it so safe. The designer’s like, ‘Well, you have to wear this dress, we want your hair to look a certain way.’ But the ladies that I work with, they don’t really adhere to that kind of formula.” A gregarious Brit who would be great fun to hang out with while getting ready, Skervin flies from his home base in New York to wherever his clients have events,
to whip up his signature youthful, fresh styles. A TIFF regular, he says, “I’ve always loved Toronto, especially during the film festival—it has such a buzz around it and a really good energy.” Last year he flew in with Knightley the morning of her Can a Song Save Your Life premiere, where she wore a f loral Mary Katrantzou dress. “I did gorgeous texture and then we pulled it back really loosely into a low bun,” he says. But his favourite festival look is the saucy pony he created for her at the 2005 premiere of Pride and Prejudice. “She wore this gorgeous checkered Roland Mouret dress and we did the 1950s ponytail. She just wiggled around like a sex symbol,” he says. “She had to rush to her plane afterwards, and she said it was the one time she actually felt like a film star because she was running through the airport in a 1950s ponytail and a sexy dress.” Occasionally, he has to work in challenging circumstances, like the time he was booked to do Emma Watson’s hair on a
private jet, on the way to the People’s Choice Awards in 2013. “I had my whole kit with me. The plane was taking off and I was just about to plug in my hair dryer and they said, ‘Oh, sorry, we forgot to let you know there’s no power in the outlets on this plane.’” Stripped of his hair dryer and curling iron, Sker vin had to get resourceful. “Luckily, her hair had been blown out so we did a cute half-up, half-down hairdo and it really worked. Even if it hadn’t, I could have put a nice messy texture in it. I’d have run mousse through dry hair and wrapped it into loops and pinned them—on the plane for six hours it would have had time to dry. You can always improvise.” The ability to whip up a camera-ready hairdo no matter where he finds himself is crucial, because to get on those ever-moreimportant “best” lists, it’s all about the whole package. “The dress can be amazing but if your hair and makeup aren’t right, it could really schlep the whole look down.” —Rani Sheen
4
JOHN FRIEDA LUXURIOUS VOLUME DRY SHAMPOO, $13, AT DRUGSTORES
3. Bobby pins and hairpins “I’ve got a little tray with a collection of pins. As long as you’ve got bobby pins and V-shaped pins, you can put anything up.” GOODY COLOUR COLLECTION BOBBY PINS, $6 (50), AT DRUGSTORES
4. Flexible-hold hairspray “This is for getting rid of a few flyaways at the very end of your updo, or if you want to smooth out your part if you’re doing more of a slick look.” ALTERNA CAVIAR WORKING HAIRSPRAY, $32, SEPHORA.CA
5. 1.5-inch barrel curling iron “Depending on the size of the section you take of the hair, you can create a tight wave or you can create a bigger wave. As long as you’ve got that medium-size curling iron, you’ve got yourself covered in all areas.” AVANTI AV-150SC 1.5-INCH CURLING IRON, $80, AT SALONS
6. Hairbrush “I always have my Mason Pearson brush, which is great; it just brushes the hair out and gives you the texture that you need.” MASON PEARSON HANDY BRISTLE BRUSH, $237, DELINEATION.CA
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10 / THEKIT.CA COVER STORY
Red-carpet countdown
KRISTEN WIIG
Glowing skin, glossy locks, pearly white teeth...Wondering how the expertly groomed celebs hitting our shores this week for the Toronto International Film Festival do it? During this prime primping time, we present a timeline for getting ready for the close-ups BY JILL DUNN
For most A-listers, who in some ways are just like us, summer equals no-makeup makeup, overgrown ombré and UV overindulgence. But after Labour Day, laissez-faire beauty comes to a halt as stars snap back to reality with a calendar full of premieres, press conferences and parties. Whatever’s on your fall social calendar, our TIFF beauty prep timeline will help get your skin, hair, limbs and smile as red-carpet ready as expected attendees Angelina Jolie and Reese Witherspoon will no doubt be. (Personal makeup artist and fridge full of cold-pressed juice not included.)
Three to six weeks before: Refresh your skin
JULIANNE MOORE
JENNIFER CONNELLY
Three days before: Get your glow on
Awkward tan lines can stand between stars and the best-dressed list. Follow their lead and take a “spray-cation” with a St. Tropez full-body spray tan, to not only get glowing but also contour the body. Inspiration: Kristen Wiig’s subtly bronzed bod How it works: Getting an even honey hue from head to toe requires a custom job. Zooey Deschanel, Margot Robbie and Kirsten Dunst rely on an airbrush spray tan, which involves standing naked in a booth while a pro wields a “gun” to mist on a believable bronze. If their red-carpet look involves a crop top or high-thigh slit, they can request trompe l’oeil sculpted abs or an extra coat of colour to mask thigh dimples. Insider scoop: No member of the Hollywood elite would dare airbrush-tan without a full body exfoliation first, so either DIY with a salt scrub or slot in extra time for a pro polish. Remember, your tan needs time to develop, so don’t shower for 12 hours after the treatment, and wear dark clothes to your appointment in case of colour transfer. Cost: St. Tropez full-body tan, $105, at Axi the Spa in Toronto, axispa.ca. At-home fix: When tanning at home, lotion or mousse is easier to apply than a spray, because you can see where you’ve applied it. Try St Tropez Tanning Essentials Self-Tan Dark Bronzing Mousse, $54, at Shoppers Drug Mart.
Two days before: Smooth your strands
ROSE BYRNE
Two weeks before: Brighten your smile
Celebrities practically invented teeth whitening for photo-op close-ups. An in-off ice dental treatment gives you the most powerful dose of bleach to achieve pearly whites. Inspiration: Rosario Dawson’s dazzling smile How it works: Laser teeth-whitening treatments like Zoom W hitening can lighten teeth by up to eight shades in one go. Hydrogen peroxide gel is swiped on each tooth, and then the laser light gets to work on lifting stains. ROSARIO Fair warning: This can cause tooth DAWSON sensitivity during and for a short while after the treatment. Insider scoop: In the U.S., a new innovation is the use of dental “pore strips”—yes, even your teeth have pores that can get clogged, but with stains rather than dirt and oil. Three layers of carbamide peroxide gel are applied to the teeth and then the strip. An LED light activates the gel and after 15 minutes, the strip is pulled off, and the stains are lifted. (We’re keeping an eye out for this—it’s not available in Canada yet.) Cost: Around $500 for laser teeth-whitening treatments. Visit zoomwhitening.com for dentist locations across Canada. At-home fix: At-home whitening strips are improving all the time—Crest 3DWhite Whitestrips Luxe Supreme FlexFit ($80, at drugstores) mould to fit your teeth, so they brighten more surface area at a time. ONLINE
TO LEARN THREE TIFFSELFIE-APPROVED BEAUTY LOOKS, HEAD TO THEKIT. CA/TIFF-SELFIE-BEAUTY/
Coax hair to behave better (but forgo the harsh chemicals of Brazilian straightening processes) with an in-salon smoothing keratin treatment. Inspiration: Julianne Moore’s glossy waves How it works: The newest sleekifying treatments “shrink-wrap” each hair strand with a feather-light coating. They don’t straighten the hair but make it swingier, shinier and more manageable, and help it to resist humidity—necessary if you don’t have a personal red-carpet umbrella holder on drizzly evenings. Insider scoop: Kérastase Discipline (in salons as of October) calls on a keratin spinoff molecule, morpho keratine, and surfacecoating polymers, all locked in with the heat of the stylist’s flat iron. Although the six-step process may seem a bit tedious, with several sink-to-chair trips, your 90-minute transformation will save you countless hours fighting frizz. Cost: Kérastase Discipline Treatment, $75 (plus blow-dry). Visit kerastase.ca for salon locations. At-home fix: Kérastase Discipline Spray Fluidissime, $54, kerastase.ca.
One day before: Say bye-bye, eye bags
Erase evidence of pre-partying with a new non-invasive treatment: the Living Proof Neotensil Daily Under-Eye Reshaping Procedure, developed by MIT scientists, no less. Inspiration: Jennifer Connelly’s bright eyes How it works: This two-step at-home treatment sold exclusively by physicians is like shapewear for under-eye bags—it gives them an invisible lift. About an hour before you head out the door, dot the Reshaping Base Cream under the eye with the plastic applicator (it’s more precise than your fingertips), and work it in with a few short strokes. Follow with four dots of the Activating Layer. The two combine to form a cross-linked, invisible film that gives your under-eye areas a dramatic but believable lift. When you roll in at dawn, holding your heels, it’s a cinch to take off with its accompanying oil-based remover. Insider scoop: This is worth it for legitimate bags as it really lifts and minimizes them—it won’t do much for mild puffiness or dark circles—and one application lasts for 16 hours. You can’t put your usual concealer or foundation on top (it does come with a specially formulated loose powder for extra coverage). Since it takes a few tries to ace application, practise once or twice before your big event. Cost: $500 for 60 applications. Visit livingproof.com/neotensil for physician locations. At-home fix: In a pinch, a concealer palette will allow you to blend out dark circles. Try Lancôme Le Correcteur Pro Professional Concealer Palette, $42, lancome.ca
SPA LIKE A STAR
We asked top celeb beauty haunts for ways to ensure A-list access Ask for speedy service “We offer exclusive in-suite treatments including a Runway Ready 20-minute manicure and pedicure. This is with four—yes, four!—nail technicians, one on each hand and one on each foot. We did this for one celeb who needed to be on the red carpet in less than half an hour. Can’t say who, though!” –Jill Carlen, spa director, Spa MyBlend by Clarins at the Ritz-Carlton, Toronto
Tip well at a spa… “Tipping is an old-fashioned thank-you note that reflects your five-star experience. We recommend 18 per cent at luxury locations.” –Surinder Bains, owner of Miraj Hammam Spa by Caudalie at the Shangri-La Hotel, Toronto
…but not at a clinic “[Here, you should tip] absolutely nothing. This is the ‘clinical’ aspect of the chic-clinical experience. Our staff are highly trained and well compensated.” –Lorinda
Zimmerman, founder of W Skincare, Toronto and Vancouver
Drop some names “We love referrals. Referrals mean that our client enjoyed the experience so much that she thought it worthwhile for her mother, sister, BFF or husband to make the effort and book too.” –Lorinda Zimmerman
Ask for your privacy “We accommodate A-listers by bringing them through the back-of-house and directly into our VIP suite, which has a washroom, shower and change area. We are also able to offer in-room treatments.” –Surinder Bains
Share your experience with your fans… “Social media has a large impact on how people view a business, and I know that my team and I love to see and share positive reviews from our guests. I personally always reach out to thank our guests who take the time to do this and reward them on their next visit.” –Amanda O’Shea, spa manager of Pure Beauty Salon and Spa at the Trump International Hotel and Tower, Toronto
…but observe social media etiquette “Keep your phone on silent, and you can snap a picture of anything but another guest in the spa. Typical photos are of the relaxation area or the snacks we provide. Not so much the treatment room, because by that time, you should be prepared for your own relaxation minus technology.” –Halla Rafati, director
of public relations for Four Seasons Hotel, Toronto
PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES (CELEBRITIES).
Repenting for summer skin sins calls for non-invasive skin rejuvenation, like a tag team of microdermabrasion (to remedy dullness, blackheads and scarring) and low-level laser therapy (a.k.a. cold laser) to firm and plump. Start skin treatments early, to allow your skin to adjust, and to calm down in case of any irritation. Inspiration: Rose Byrne’s dewy glow How it works: Pioneered by Vancouver- and Toronto-based esthetician Lorinda Zimmerman for her TV and film clientele, this “double-blast” treatment starts with microdermabrasion to get skin’s surface in check, followed by cold laser therapy. Unlike thermal lasers that work by “injuring” the skin and leave you looking like a blotchy mess, a cold laser works at the cellular level to kick-start collagen and elastin production so skin becomes more taut over time. (Side note: Cold laser therapy is often used in wound/joint healing to soothe inflammation.) In just under an hour, skin is dewy, plump and super-smooth. Insider scoop: For TIFF, kick it up a notch with the “Hollywood 6” series. “It’s designed for actors filming on set or for those clients who require HD-camera-ready skin in a short period of time,” says Zimmerman. For $1,500, they receive six treatments in quick succession, over a period of six days or six weeks (depending on the client’s schedule), to get skin looking tighter and fresher. Cost: $282 per treatment, at W Skincare locations in Toronto and Vancouver, wskincare.ca. At-home fix: Polish skin and keep pores squeaky clean with Clinique Sonic Purifying Cleansing Brush, $95, clinique.ca.
THEKIT.CA / 11 DRESSING UP
Cream of the crop
A CLICK AWAY FROM YOUR CLOSET
The mid-length trouser-skirt hybrid known as the culotte is poised for a fashion comeback. But can it work off the runway? One writer takes this erstwhile 1970s wardrobe staple for a modern-day spin
OUR FAVOURITE ITEMS FROM E-TAILERS WE LOVE
BY OLIVIA STREN
When I was growing up, I thought that being an adult would be like living in an episode of Three’s Company. The show ran from 1977 to 1984 and played in constant repeats in the 1980s, and I became convinced I’d live in an apartment near a sunny beach, have a pair of attractive roommates, get embroiled in misunderstandings involving a swinging kitchen door—and do it all while wearing culottes like Chrissy Snow, played by Suzanne Somers. She had a slammin’ figure and looked particularly fetching in camel-coloured culottes and brown ribbed turtlenecks, paired to saucy effect with stacked-heel, knee-high cognac leather boots—a look at once sexy and playful, sophisticated and plucky. Today’s incarnation, which falls with the forgiving, waist-def ining drape of a sk ir t, has lately been embraced by designers (Proenza Schouler, Fendi), high-street chains (Zara, H& M) and carpet-traipsing
celebrities (Victoria Beckham, Lupita Nyong’o) in something of a culotte comeback. Like, way back. The French word dates to the 16th century, referring to the cropped, tight-at-the-knee silk breeches worn by the aristocracy. (During the French Revolution, the militant working class were pejoratively labelled the “sans-culottes” for their rejection of the ruling classes and their fancy pants.) They then enjoyed a rebirth, and rebranding, during the Victorian era; co-opted by women, they became split skirts fashioned for horseback riding. BC (Before Culottes), women were obliged to ride sidesaddle with a man at the reins. As for me, I reached adulthood a long time ago, I have—alas—experienced little intrigue involving swinging doors, and I have never lived anywhere near a sunny beach. I do, however, have some attractive roommates (my husband and my cats) and, finally, a pair of culottes. I had eyes for a creamy
pair from Tibi, but their hefty price tag (my kingdom for culottes?) urged me to move on to Aritzia, where I settled on a sharp white pair made from satin-back Japanese crepe. Like most culottes, these are best worn with heels or Chrissy Snow-approved espadrilles to lend height. (Even Somers couldn’t pull them off with flats.) When I sported them one sunny day for errand running, a woman stopped me on the street. “Excuse me. I love your pants! Wait. Are they pants? What are they?” she asked. “They’re culottes,” I explained. She crumpled her brow in confusion. Later, when I donned them with espadrilles and a short black top for a birthday dinner party, my dining companions gave me thorough up-anddown stares, appraising my choice of bottoms. One said: “Those pants! Very chic. You look like you belong on a yacht.” Indeed—or a horse. Or a late1970s sitcom.
It’s no secret that Oxfords have moved beyond boys-only territory to It-shoe, and Cole Haan blurs the lines best with this style. In beige suede with brogue detailing, the Gramercy Oxford channels English charm with a feminine pop of colour thanks to its raspberry soles. Wear this seasonless staple now with cropped pants, a patterned blazer and structured bag. Cole Haan Gramercy Oxfords, $225
thekit.ca/theseptember In collaboration with
Olivia Stren is a freelance writer based in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter @oliviastren
LEFT TO RIGHT: ALEXANDER WANG CULOTTES, $765, AT HOLT RENFREW; ACNE STUDIOS WIDE-LEG PANTS, $560, NET-A-PORTER.COM; TOPSHOP CULOTTES, $72, THEBAY.COM; MICHAEL KORS DENIM CULOTTES, $650, NET-A-PORTER.COM
Editor-in-Chief Christine Loureiro Creative Director Jessica Hotson Senior Editor Alex Laws Fashion Editor Vanessa Taylor Beauty Editor Rani Sheen Digital/Special Projects Editor Michelle Bilodeau
Assistant Art Directors Sonya van Heyningen, Kristy Wright (on leave)
Project Director, Digital Media Kelly Matthews
Designer Amber Hickson
Sales & Marketing Coordinator Evie Begy
Assitant Digital Editor Carly Ostroff
Publisher, The Kit Giorgina Bigioni Direct advertising inquiries to: Associate Publisher Tami Coughlan
[email protected]
The Kit is Canada’s Beauty Authority (c) 2014, The Kit, a division of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited.
President, Star Media Group John Cruickshank Editor-in-Chief, Toronto Star Michael Cooke
Honey & Bloom’s Oui Oui Necklace is a perfect example of everything sounding (and in this case looking) better in French. C’est vrai? Honey Bloom 14KT Gold Plated Solid Brass necklace, $90 thekit.ca/brika In collaboration with
MAKE SUMMER LAST WITH
DOLCE & GABBANA’S ITALIAN ESCAPE Warm wind, Mediterranean nights and sun-kissed skin: Panarea and Vulcano, two of Italy’s rugged Aeolian islands, are a small piece of paradise north of Sicily and the inspiration for two new limitededition scents from Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue.
ESCAPE TO PANAREA FOR WOMEN
DISCOVER VULCANO FOR MEN
Eau de Toilette Spray, 50 mL, $89; 100 mL, $114
Eau de Toilette Spray, 75 mL, $77; 125 mL, $100
Panarea is the island of love. Here, summer nights are lit by a thousand candles, spent on terraces overlooking the glittering blue waters, with the feeling that you are suspended in time, between the sea and the stars. — Stefano Gabbana
When you walk on the crater of Vulcano, you feel the power of nature and its pulsating and profound intensity, even though it is dormant for now. It is not just a vacation on a breathtakingly beautiful island, but a journey full of great discoveries. — Domenico Dolce
Sweet and fresh, woody and musky, this scent evokes Panarea’s welcoming waters and streets brimming with life. Other notes: Calabrian bergamot, pear, jasmine, orange blossom, ambergris, patchouli, tonka bean.
Mediterranean and masculine, the scent captures Vulcano’s natural power with Italian lemon, ginger, lavender and grassy soft cypress. Other notes: Haitian vetiver, cedar wood and musky-amber ambrox.
Available at Holt Renfrew, Hudson’s Bay, Shoppers Drug Mart, Jean Coutu, Sephora and Dolce&Gabbana boutiques
